No abstract

Assessing distribution patterns of valuable taxa plays an important role in the biodiversity conservation of these taxa. The genus Crocus L. (Iridaceae) comprises about 100 species that are distributed mainly in the Mediterranean region and western Asia. The present study purposed to assess the distribution patterns of Iranian Crocus species (including C. sativus L. and 8 wild species) and their conservation status in Iran as one of diversity centers of Crocus in the Middle East. A set of geographic distribution data was compiled through field studies, and reviews of herbarium specimens, iNaturalist, and various Flora. Localities were marked on geo-referenced maps (1/106) of Iran using ArcView version 3.2 (Esri, 2000). The distribution patterns of the taxa were mapped per 0.25° × 0.25° universal transverse Mercator grid cells (25 km2 with the exception of boundary area). Based on the species distribution (SDI) (33%) and species specialization (SSI) (44%) indices, those Iranian Crocus species that are threatened are mainly distributed in Irano-Turanian region. The mountainous ecosystems of Almeh and Western Alborz are important distribution centers of these taxa. Iranian Crocus species with SSI < 0.5 (C. almehensis, C. gilanicus, C. michelsonii, and C. caspius) have the highest conservation value.

Persian walnut (Juglans regia L.), is very auspicious plant species of Iran from both economical and food points of views. Both wildly grown as well as cultivated forms of this plant species are scattered in different geographical regions of the country and are a valuable source for edible nut as well as job employment. Scattered published data on genetic diversity of this important plant species are mainly based on different molecular data analyses; therefore a meta-analysis of the same cultivars based on several different molecular markers including DNA-sequences and multi-locus markers was conducted to provide a detailed insight on genetic structure of walnuts. The results indicated a moderated genetic variability of about 40 percent in the studied cultivars; however these cultivars are genetically differentiated as revealed by Fst and AMOVA. HGT analyses revealed that the cultivars phylogeny differs to some degree by different markers and therefore a heat map was constructed to reveal the cultivars relationships based on combined molecular data. A higher Pst value was obtained compared to that of Fst genetic differentiation, therefore, it seems that local adaptation and selection have played role in the walnut cultivars’ morphological divergence. LFMM analysis identified some adaptive multi-locus alleles in the studied walnut cultivars.